Mystery Road (2013) (the movie)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mystery Road is an Australian drama which premiered in 2013. Here is some basic information about it:

 

** Writer and director: Ivan Sen

** Producer: David Jowsey

** Associate producer: Aaron Pedersen

** Executive producer: Gary Hamilton

** Available on DVD and via Amazon Prime Video

** Run time: 122 minutes

 

The cast includes the following:

 

The first group

** Aaron Pedersen as Jay Swan – a police officer – a detective

** Tasma Walton as Mary Swan – Jay’s ex-wife

** Madeleine Madden as Crystal Swan – Jay’s teenage daughter

** Ryan Kwanten as Pete Bailey - a farmer

** Hugo Weaving as Johnno – a police officer

 

The second group

** Jack Thompson as Charlie Murray – chief of police

** Robert Mammone as Constable Roberts

** Bruce Spence as Jim – the coroner

** Jack Charles as Old Boy

 

This drama is unusual for two reasons:

 

# 1. It is set in the Australian outback. We are far from the big city.

# 2. The director (Ivan Sen) and the leading actor (Aaron Pedersen) are both Aboriginals.

 

I do not wish to spoil the viewing for anyone. I am not going to say much about what happens in this drama. 

 

I will only offer a few hints: it is very Australian. It is very laid-back. Some viewers say it is a slow burn. I think this is a good description.

 

What do reviewers say about it?

 

Here are some results:

 

** 66 percent = IMDb

** 72 percent = Meta

** 64 percent = Rotten Tomatoes (the audience)

** 92 percent = Rotten Tomatoes (the critics)

 

On Amazon there are at the moment more than 700 ratings of this product, more than 300 with reviews.

 

The average rating is 4.3 stars which corresponds to a rating of 86 percent.

 

If you ask me, all these ratings are too high.

 

Why?

 

Let me explain:

 

The beginning is good. I like the setting, and I like a drama where the story is slowly building up.

 

In addition, the cinematography is excellent. There are some fabulous views of the landscape in the Australian outback.

 

But the good beginning gives me high expectations which are not fulfilled. Before long, the story goes off the track, and when we get to the ending, it is just too much.

 

It is sad to watch a story which has so much potential go downhill in this way. I am sorry to say this, but this drama does not deserve more than two stars (40 percent).

 

PS # 1. Goldstone, which premiered in 2016, is a sequel to Mystery Road. 

 

It has the same director and the same leading character. In my opinion, the quality of the drama is improving. Goldstone is better than Mystery Road.

 

PS # 2. Mystery Road is the title of a television series, which premiered in 2018. It is a spin-off from the 2013 movie and the 2016 movie.

 

Season one and season two have the same leading character. Season three is a prequel, set in 1999, with the title: Mystery Road: Origin.

 

Mark Coles Smith plays a younger version of Jay Swan. 

Each season has six episodes.

The total number of episodes is 18.

 

In my opinion, the quality of the product is definitely improving. The series from 2018 is better than the drama from 2016 and much better than the drama from 2013.

 

PS # 3. Aaron Pedersen has a minor role on the Australian television series A Place to Call Home, which ran for six seasons (2013-2018).

 

*****

Mystery Road

An Australian drama

which premiered in 2013

 

*****